AQA GCSE Geography

Paper 3: Pre-release – Figure 1 (6 marker)

To what extent does waste management cause environmental challenges? [6]

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AQA GCSE GEOGRAPHY: Paper 3 – Pre-release – Figure 1 - 6 mark question (Example 1)

AQA GCSE Geography
Paper 3: Pre-release – Figure 1 (6 marker)

To what extent does waste management cause environmental challenges? [6]

Waste management can cause significant environmental challenges depending on the
destination stream of the waste.

Firstly, landfill is the most environmentally damaging of the waste stream options.
Burying waste has a number of negative environmental impacts as sites can often leak
First paragraph gives
methane from the decomposition of food waste as well as landfill sites often being examples of different
smelly. There have been leaks of toxic substances into ground water courses and into environmental impacts
rivers and streams nearby which has significant environmental impacts for the local of landfill and states why
habitats. They create large amounts of traffic from large rubbish trucks dropping off it is the most
environmentally
loads resulting in more vehicle emissions and rubbish often falls from trucks onto the damaging of all waste
surrounding roads and ends up blown into verges and fields damaging local wildlife. solutions.
Landfill is part of a linear waste system and therefore is the most wasteful and least
sustainable of waste stream destinations.

However, some waste management choices can be far more sustainable. By aiming to
move towards a sustainable circular waste system, raw materials are more likely to
recycled or re-used rather than wasted and the amount of disposable waste is kept to Second paragraph
a minimum which is better for the environment. However, arguably despite the best acknowledges that
recycling is much better
intentions recycling rates remain low in the UK as a result of lack of investment, so raw
for the environment –
materials which could be recycled end up in landfill. Furthermore, some of the waste but also has its issues,
we collect kerbside ends up being exported overseas to be recycled; the LICs and NEEs both locally and within
are paid to take waste but can’t always process it so it ends up being dumped or sent other countries.
to landfill ruining their environments in the process. This is a significant environmental
challenge which needs to be overcome to make recycling truly sustainable.

Overall, dealing with waste will always create environmental challenges but some such Short concluding
as landfill are far more damaging and lead to more waste of raw materials than others statement that links back
which aim to reduce the quantity of disposable waste in a product’s lifecycle. to the question.

AQA GCSE GEOGRAPHY: Paper 3 – Pre-release – Figure 1 - 6 mark question (Example 1)

AQA GCSE Geography
Paper 3: Pre-release - Figure 1 (6 marker)

To what extent does waste management cause environmental challenges? [6]

Level Marks Description

3 5-6 AO3 – Demonstrates detailed evaluation of how different waste management
(Detailed) solutions might have varying impacts on the environment.

AO4 – Communicates ideas with clarity and good use of geographical language.
2 3-4 AO3 - Demonstrates a clear evaluation of how different waste management solutions
(Clear) might have varying impacts on the environment.

AO4 – Communicates ideas effectively with some use of geographical language.

1 1-2 AO3 - Demonstrates a basic evaluation of how different waste management solutions
(Basic) might have impacts on the environment.

AO4 – Communicates ideas using basic language.

0 No relevant content.

Indicative content:
• Issues with landfill – the amount of space needed, greenhouse gases released, impact of traffic
levels around landfill sites, visual pollution, issues with air quality – fumes but also smell.
• Issues with incineration – burning waste releases greenhouse gases, smoke released causes local
air pollution – harmful to habitats but also the health of local people, incinerators are very large –
visual impact on the landscape.
• Issues with recycling – varying capacity between local councils, transportation of recycled materials
to be processed in LICs/NEEs – often ends up being burned instead.

AQA GCSE GEOGRAPHY: Paper 3 – Pre-release – Figure 1 - 6 mark question (Example 1)